PADI Fish Identification Instructor course

Fish ID Instructor Specialty course on Koh Tao

Enhance your knowledge of marine life and expand your teaching portfolio with the PADI Fish Identification Instructor Specialty course at IDC Koh Tao. One of the most common questions every dive instructor hears after a dive is: “What was that fish?” This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to answer that question with authority.

As a PADI Fish Identification Instructor, you will learn how to teach divers to recognise and identify different fish families and species using key characteristics such as shape, behaviour, and habitat. This not only improves your own understanding of marine life but also allows you to offer one of the most engaging and educational specialty courses to your students.

By teaching fish identification, you help divers connect more deeply with the underwater world, making every dive more meaningful and memorable.

Learn Fish Identification in Koh Tao

Koh Tao is one of the best locations in Thailand to teach fish identification. The island is home to a wide variety of marine life, making it an ideal natural classroom for this specialty.

From large schools of trevally, barracuda, and snapper at deeper sites like Chumphon Pinnacle, to colourful reef species such as parrotfish and butterflyfish on the shallower reefs, Koh Tao offers incredible diversity for teaching fish identification.

With numerous dive sites and abundant marine life, you will have the opportunity to train your students in real-world conditions, helping them develop the skills to identify fish confidently on any dive.

Who Can Enrol on the PADI Fish Identification Instructor Course?

To enrol in this course, you must be:

• A renewed PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)

Note: IDC/OWSI candidates may complete the Fish Identification Instructor training during their IDC but can only apply for certification after successfully passing the PADI Instructor Examination (IE).

To qualify for certification, you must have a minimum of 10 logged fish identification dives. This is a course exit requirement and can be completed either before or after the training course.

What Will You Learn?

This course is designed to give you the skills and confidence to teach fish identification effectively and professionally.

During the program, you will:

• Deliver and be evaluated on a knowledge development presentation based on the Fish Identification Specialty curriculum
• Review PADI Fish Identification standards, procedures, and course structure
• Learn how to organise, conduct, and promote the Fish Identification Specialty course
• Complete open water training sessions where you will demonstrate and evaluate student-level fish identification skills

You will also learn how to teach key identification techniques, including recognising fish families, understanding habitats and behaviours, and introducing basic fish survey methods.

Upon completion, you will be certified to independently teach the PADI Fish Identification Specialty course, allowing you to expand your teaching options and offer a highly popular and rewarding course.

PADI Materials

Please bring the following materials:

• PADI Specialty Instructor Manual (from your IDC Crew Pack)
• PADI Instructor Manual (available as a free download for renewed PADI Members via PADI Pro / MyPADI)

PADI Fees

• PADI Fish Identification Instructor Application Fee: AUD $145

Why Add the Fish Identification Instructor Specialty?

The Fish Identification Specialty is one of the most enjoyable and educational courses you can teach. It enhances your knowledge of marine life, improves your ability to engage students, and adds variety to your teaching.

This specialty is particularly valuable for instructors working in marine-rich environments like Koh Tao and contributes toward your PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) certification.